Knockdown shelving



KNOCKDOWN SHELVNG Mlm June 25 1955 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /W mw ma@ United States Patent O 3 Int. Cl. A47f 5/,10; A47b 57/20 U.S. Cl. 108--111 3 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A knockdown shelving of the type consisting of the combination of vertical uprights adapted to be disposed by pairs, one on one face of the shelving and the other on the opposite face, with cross members adapted to be disposed horizontally between the two uprights of a same pair, and with trays or plates adapted to be suspended from or supported by said cross members to constitute horizontal shelves. Each upright consists of a section member of which the horizontal cross-section has substantially the shape of a hollow T and of which the member corresponding to the upper element of the T is adapted to be placed against the corresponding face of the shelving and the two walls constituting the perpendicular or central web of the T which extends at right angles to said upper element of the T comprise a row of spaced apertures formed therethrough, throughout the height of the relevant upright. Each cross member consists of a flat bar adapted to engage one of said perforated walls of the perpendicular or central web of the T-sectioned upright, the ends of said cross members being each provided with one or a plurality of bent lugs adapted to engage said apertures of the relevant wall.

The present invention relates to knockdown shelving of the type adapted to be assembled without using screws, bolts or other fastening members.

More specifically, it relates to shelving of the type consisting of the combination of vertical upright-forming sections adapted to be disposed at the front and rear faces of the shelf structure, with on the one hand cross members adapted to be disposed horizontally between two uprights of a same pair, and on the other hand trays or plates adapted to be suspended from or supported by said cross member to constitute the horizontal shelves proper.

Many types of knockdown shelvings of this character are already known. However, they are attended by various inconveniences.

Thus, some of these known structures have an unaesthetic appearance due to the fact that the means provided for securing the horizontal cross members to the uprights are still visible in the assembled condition. In other known constructions this inconvenience is avoided but this result is obtained at the expenses of a complicated structure of the vertical uprights of which the manufacture is then particularly diicult and expensive.

It is therefore an essential object of this invention to provide a knockdown shelving characterised essentially by an aesthetic appearance and of which the component elements can nevertheless be manufactured very easily, these elements being on the other hand designed with a View to permit their easy assembling into a very sturdy and rigid shelving.

With this end in view, the shelving according to this invention is characterised essentially in that each vertical upright consists of a section having in horizontal section or cross-section the shape of a hollow T of which the portion corresponding to the upper cross member of the T is adapted to engage the corresponding front or rear face of the shelving, the other walls constituting the central web of the T having a row of spaced apertures formed therethrough, throughout the height of the upright; the shelving cross members consist each, on the other hand, of a flat bar adapted to engage one of the perforated walls of an upright and having its ends formed with one or more ybent lugs adapted to engage said apertures of the relevant or registering web wall.

Thus, the horizontal cross members of the shelving can be mounted on the vertical uprights of a same pair by simply engaging said bent lugs at their ends into apertures formed to this end in the uprights. However, due to the specific arrangement of these apertures, these are not visible from the front face of a shelving constructed according to this invention, so that the shelving has a neat and pleasant appearance.

Other features and advantages of the knockdown shelving according to this invention will appear as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating diagrammatically by way of example typical forms of embodiment of this shelving. In the drawing:

FIGURE l is a perspective view showing a rst form of embodiment of the shelving of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a vertical upright of the shelving;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective View showing one of the horizontal cross members thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the assembling of a horizontal cross member with a vertical upright, and

FIGURES 5 and 6 are fragmentary perspective views showing respectively a modified form of embodiment of the verticaluprights and a corresponding modification of a horizontal cross member to be associated therewith.

The shelving illustrated in FIGURE l comprises six vertical uprights 1 disposed by pairs, three at the front and three at the rear of the shelving. The uprights of a same pair are interconnected by detachable, brace-forming horizontal cross members 2, adapted to support trays or plates 3 constituting the horizontal shelves of the structure.

As will be readily seen in FIGURE 2, each vertical upright 1 consists of a section member of which the crosssectional shape is substantially that of a hollow T. The wing T of this section, which corresponds to the cross member of the T, is adapted to 4be placed against the corresponding front or rear face of the shelving, and the two parallel walls 5a and 5b of the web perpendicular thereto extend inwardly of the shelving, as shown in the drawing.

The parallel walls 5a and 5b have a row of spaced apertures or perforations formed therethrough, throughout the length or height of the upright; these apertures are adapted to receive suspension lugs formed at the ends of the horizontal cross members 2. The inner portions 7a and 7b of each upright are adapted to act as abutments to the ends of the horizontal cross members. On the other hand, the two walls 5a and 5b have their ends opposite to the cross member of the T bent at right angles towards each other as at 8, but a narrow gap 9 is left therebetween for receiving the edge of a vertical partition, in case it is desired to separate two adjacent horizontal trays 3 disposed at the same level.

The above-described upright section 1 may advantageously be manufactured from a suitably bent metal strip or sheet metal stock, of which the two longitudinal edges eventually constitute the registering edges 8 at the base of the T-shaped section. The various folding steps performed on this metal strip or sheet will then impart a considerable stiffness and a very great strength thereto.

Each horizontal cross member 2 consists of a at bar 10 of which each end is adapted to engage the corresponding wall 5a or 5b of the perpendicular or central web of a vertical upright 1. Each end of this bar carries a pair of bent lugs 11 adapted to engage a pair of adjacent apertures I6 formed in a vertical upright.

In this respect, it may be noted that the lower edge of these lugs is formed with a small notch 1'2 permitting the hooking of the corresponding end of cross member when the lugs thereof engage completely the registering apertures 6 of an upright. Under these conditions, the ends of the cross member are caused to engage one of the walls 5a or 5b of the perpendicular web of the relevant vertical uprights, these ends abutting on the other hand against the above-defined upright portions 7a or 7b. Thus, the ends of the horizontal cross members are safely locked to the vertical uprights from which they are suspended.

At its lower portion each cross member 10 comprises a ledge 13 bent at right angles which projects from the face of the same cross member which is opposite to said bent lugs 11. The vertical portion of this ledge may have one or more notches 14 formed therein so that a plurality of trays or plates 3 can be disposed in succession on a same cross member.

Besides, there is provided at the upper portion of each cross member a horizontal bent portion 15 extending on the same side as the suspension lugs 11. This bent portion 15 is disposed at a level such that it will be substantially fiush with the upper face of the tray or plate 3 laid on the lower suspension ledge 13 of the cross mernber involved.

Now the width of this upper bent portion 15 is such that it extends through one-half of the gap left between two adjacent cross members 10, whereby any solution of continuity is definitely avoided between adjacent trays or plates 3 disposed at a same level throughout the width of the shelving.

Moreover, it will be seen that the upper bent portion 15 of cross member 10 has a notch 16 formed at either end to permit the fitting thereof on the corresponding edge of the relevant vertical upright 1. Now this fitting obviously improves the mutual locking engagement between the horizontal cross members and the vertical uprights 1.

Thus, the component elements of the shelving according to this invention provide a particularly simple structure. Besides, their manufacture is extremely easy and their cost is therefore relatively low.

Furthermore, these component elements are particularly simple to assemble. In fact, for securing each horizontal cross member on the two vertical uprights of a same pair, it is only necessary to engage the suspension bent lugs 11 formed at the ends of these cross members into the aperture 6 formed in the relevant uprights.

As already pointed out hereinabove, the horizontal cross members are perfectly secured to the uprights, and these are rigidly braced by the cross members.

In this respect, it may be noted that the frame structure consisting of the vertical uprights and horizontal cross members is extremely rigid and sturdy, due to the specific hooking means contemplated and the different bearing surfaces provided between these elements.

Finally, the shelving is completed by simply disposing the trays or plates 3 upon the cross members 10.

As already explained in the foregoing, the shelving thus obtained has a neat and pleasant appearance since the apertures 6 formed in the uprights for suspending the horizontal cross members are not visible from the front of the shelving.

In fact, due to their specific position on the walls 5a and 5b of the perpendicular web of the T-shaped upright section, these apertures are concealed within the shelving.

Of course, the knockdown shelving according to this invention should not be construed as being limited by the specific form of embodiment described hereinabove by way of example, since many modifications and variations may be brought thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Thus, as illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 of the drawing, a modified form of embodiment may comprise horizontal cross members lta of which the suspension lugs 11a are formed with a horizontal bent extension 17 filling one portion of the notch 16a formed at the end of the upper bent portion 15a of the corresponding cross member. Under these conditions, the apertures 6a formed in the uprights 1a comprise at their upper end a horizontal extension 17a adapted to permit the passage of said horizontal bent extension 17 of the suspension lug 11a of said cross members.

However, a gap 18 is left between the horizontal bent extension 17 and the body of the corresponding cross member 10a, whereby the extension 17 can be engaged behind the vertical edge of an aperture 6a of upright 1a when the same extension 17 has been inserted into said aperture extension 17a. To this end, it is only necessary to allow the cross member to slip down to its final position by gravity.

What I claim is:

1. Knockdown shelving consisting of the combination of vertical uprights adapted to be disposed by pairs, one on one face of the shelving and the other on the opposite face, cross members adapted to be disposed horizontally between the two uprights of a same pair, plates adapted to be supported by said cross members, each upright consisting of a section member of which the horizontal cross-section has substantially the shape of a hollow T and of which the portion corresponding to the upper element of the T is adapted to be placed against the corresponding face of the shelving and the two walls constituting the central web of the T which extends at right angles to said upper element of the T comprise a row of spaced apertures formed therethrough, throughout the height of the relevant upright, said cross members consisting each of a at bar adapted to engage one of said perforated walls of the central web of the T-sectioned upright, the ends of said cross members being each provided with at least one bent lug adapted to engage said apertures of the relevant wall.

2. Knockdown shelving according to claim 1, in which each cross member comprises along its upper edge a bent portion extending horizontally and formed at either end with a notch permitting the tting thereof on the corresponding corner of a vertical upright. Y

3. Knockdown shelving according to claim 1, in which each upright consists of a suitable bent metal sheet of which the edges registering with each other in the bent condition of the sheet are disposed at the lbase'of the T- shaped section thus obtained, said edges having a ga-p left therebetween for receiving the edge of a vertical partition for separating adjacent trays of the shelving, said partition being adapted to be disposed between two ad- (References on following page) 6 References Cited 3,244,127 4/ 1966 Evans 108-111 XR UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,438,344 4/1969 Ferdinand et a1. 108-11O Evans 108 109 XR 5 GLENN O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner Amthor et al. 108-110 XR 

